**UPDATE COMING SOON; I came again in 2024 and there has been a TON of development since
Let me give you the breakdown of the most magical place in the world...I stayed in Bali for 7 nights, but wish I could have stayed a whole month (or more)! I went to three destinations: Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu (in that order). Below is a bulleted breakdown of my itinerary, which includes a description of each place, my top recommendations (food, activities, and accommodations), as well as some local tips!
Ubud
Vibe: Located in central Bali (in the jungle--surrounded by palm trees and rice fields)! This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, and is filled with the kindest souls. Good vibes all around. This is a great spot to visit if you are into yoga, meditation, or just chasing waterfalls. It is a very central spot, which means easy accessibility to a lot of iconic spots. I would consider this a cultural hub of Bali. Night life is not a huge thing in Ubud, but there are definitely great spots to grab a drink in the evening!
Accommodation:
Villa Kirani (booked through Airbnb)
We stayed in Villa #1
Private pool and stone bath
Highly recommend - friendly/helpful staff
Romantic spot
TV, AC, WiFi, and restaurant on site
Restaurants:
Batan Waru (dinner)
Favorite dinner in Ubud. A bit $$$ for Bali, but delicious (and still very affordable for American standards)
Classic Indonesian food
Clear Cafe (lunch or dinner)
Array of foods from around the world
Delicious bowls, smoothies, and many other healthy options
Must do!
Warung Citta Ovest Pizza and Pasta
Spaghetti with tomato cream sauce was to die for!
Celts and Spells Creperie (breakfast)
Amazing bowls and smoothies
Quaint place where you sit on the floor
Balinese food
Small, cozy feeling
Promotes sustainable eating
Seasonal menu
Suggest making a reservation
La Cevicheria (dinner)
Vegan/ Vegetarian options
Delicious seafood
Mexican
Has really good raw/vegan/vegetarian options (we ate here before our meditation)
*You do not need to make reservations in advance. You can play it by ear. Only place I recommend making one for is Locavore.
Activities:
Waterfalls
Kanto Lampo (my favorite)
Tegenungan Waterfall (heard it was touristy, so didn't go, but everyone says it is beautiful)!
Both are easy scooter rides from downtown Ubud
Yoga/ Meditations
Yoga Barn (do a meditation with Punnu if you can)
Radiantly Alive Yoga (another great yoga studio)
Tegalalang Rice Terraces (famous ones you see photographs of everywhere)
20 min scooter ride from downtown Ubud
I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the tourist crowd (we arrived around 7am)
Go on the swings over the terraces (many options that you can't miss and so fun)!
Temple
Tirta Empul - Holy Water Temple (great place to cleanse yourself spiritually)
Spa
Taksu Spa (BEAUTIFUL spa with such intricate decor and serene vibes)
Get massages (so many places to go for walk ins). Most charge around $12 USD/hour.
Facial
Ear Candle (was so interesting but amazing)!
Hike Mt. Batur
It's a bit of a drive from Ubud, so you will probably wake up around 2am to get there in time for sunrise. It's a strenuous hike uphill, but worth it because you will be rewarded with a beautiful view.
We did not do this, but heard great things.
Monkey Forest
We did not do this, but a lot of people do
Wild Monkeys that you walk around with
Do not have valuables (sunglasses/jewelry on body) if you decide to go
Canggu
Vibe: surfer/ bag packer town on the coast. Filled with friendly people from around the world. Great place to party. Really cute shops and restaurants all up and down the streets.
Accommodation:
Osom Villas (booked through Airbnb).
Super clean and cute decor
Very cost effective
The hosts were awesome and had great local suggestions
AC on site
Restaurants:
Amazing fresh fish and delicious cocktails
Walking distance to The Lawn and Old Man’s
Breakfast spot (must try)!
A well known pizza joint (thin crust)
breakfast, coffee, vegan muffins and brownies
This was my favorite breakfast spot
Fish eatery for dinner, make a reservation before
breakfast, lunch, or dinner, nice coffee and desserts
Bottega Italiana on Batu Bolong
Small cozy Italian bistro
For pizza and drinks
Activities:
Surf Lesson/ Surf on Batu Bolong (very manageable for beginners too)
We used an awesome local named Adi (find him on Instagram to set something up: @adicandybali -- you can use my name)!
Lay out at Echo Beach and grab lunch at one of the beach bars!
Go shopping!
It's a great area to walk around and filled with cute boutiques
Watch the sunset at The Lawn one night
DELICIOUS cocktails
Tanah Lot Temple
20 min scooter ride away
Was super touristy - heads up
Nightlife:
Watch the sunset here, vibey place with great cocktails (across from Old Man’s)
Bag packer crowd, right on the water, but very fun! We had a blast and met some really cool people from around the world while here.
Great on Wednesdays
Uluwatu
Vibe: You will find the most beautiful beaches here! It is a real deal surf town (big waves where a lot of pros go to). There is not much of a night life, and it is a bit quieter than some other areas in Bali. I would consider this a great spot for a romantic getaway.
Accommodation:
Oasis Bungalows at Bingin (booked through airbnb)
This was an amazing location--just a 5 min walk from Bingin beach!
A beautiful outdoor private shower area
AC, TV, and restaurant on site
Activities:
Bingin Beach
Watch the surfers or take a lesson if you are good enough.
Really tiny/ quaint beach that is not touristy.
Stay here through sunset. It is pretty amazing.
Has a few food options too!
Beach club with beautiful views
They have beds where you can chill at during the day. If you plan to go for sunset, make sure to make a reservation!
Has a beautiful clean pool and good music playing during the day and night
Beach club with a stunning infinity pool overlooking the ocean; get here in late afternoon and stay through sunset in the VIP area (super cheap to enter in terms of USD-- like $35, but heads up that is $$$ for Bali standards).
They offer a delicious Spanish tapas menu and unique cocktails
Best on Sunday nights (turns into a party scene and stays open later than usual)
Also a great spot to go to for lunch and watch the surfers
Uluwatu Water Temple
Try and see the ceremony at sunset
Yoga/ meditation
Other beaches: Green Bowl Beach, Nyang-Nyang Beach, Padang Padang
Restaurants:
Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
It is like an Australian spin on Mexican food (I bought the hot sauce to take home its soooo good)!!!
Healthy bowls/ vegan options
Great place to sit down and do some work if you have to
Can fit bigger groups
Amazing breakfast (must do!)
Good dinner spot too, but more known for their brekkie
Description above, but can do lunch or dinner here
Description above, but can do lunch or dinner here
Good food, but kinda slow and over priced (for Bali), but has really good vibe and fun environment around sunset
Other Destinations/ Activities:
Seminyak is very close to Canggu and also a great little party/surf town. Very easy to hop between the two areas. We didn't make it here, but have heard great things!
Potato Head Beach Club - great place to hang out during the day, but need to get there before noon to get a table
Mrs. Sippy - beach club
Gilli Island is where everyone scuba dives! If you can make it there, I would. Most recommend to spend at least 2-3 nights here.
Kuta I have heard mixed reviews on this as a destination. Make sure to do your research in advance. We did not include this in our itinerary.
There is SO much to do on this island! This list does not cover the the Northern or Eastern parts of Bali. If you are a first timer, I recommend starting with the above destinations!
Transportation/ Local Tips:
Bring cash with you everywhere
Rent a motorbike wherever you stay….traffic can get bad, but it's easy to get around it on a bike and more fun that way!!
Make sure your lights work and that you have a helmet
Make sure to put all your belongings inside the seat storage space while driving, so people can’t rip it off your body (purses/phones). This did not happen to us, but did to some of our friends.
Tipping is not a thing at restaurants, but always appreciated by locals
Highly recommend using Airbnb to book your accommodations through!
We did this trip in under $2,000/person (including flights from California). You can most definitely do it on a tighter budget if need be!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me directly! I'd love to hear from you. You can find my email address in the "contact" section above.
Xx,
Natalie
